This post is Day 19 in a series of studies about “Joy”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Joy – Day 19

It took Jacob many years to learn how to behave correctly in his relationships with others. From birth he had been a schemer. These verses, uttered by his father in law voice the disappointment in that family relationship. Neither Laban nor Jacob were good at being honest in their dealings.

Genesis 31:26-28

Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war. Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps? You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.”

The Thought

It took Jacob many years to learn how to behave correctly in his relationships with others. Right from his birth he had been a schemer. These verses, uttered by his father in law voice the disappointment in that family relationship. Neither Laban nor Jacob were good at being honest in their dealings.

Today’s verses do not speak about joy, but about the lack of it. Laban felt that his son in law had cheated him, which he had in a way (Genesis 31:31-43). And he was certainly not happy that Jacob was leaving and taking both his daughters away.

Jacob’s life had been one of cheating, but he almost met his match when Laban tricked him into marrying the “wrong daughter” (Genesis 29:16-25)!

In spite of his bad characteristics, Jacob was chosen by God to be the father of the people who would eventually become the nation of Israel.

Action

At this Christmas time many of us will be thinking of members of the family who are a long way away; physically, because of distance or travel restrictions, emotionally, because of a rift in the family, or because of sickness. Many will be sad remembering those who have died during the year.

Pray for those you know who will not be having “Christmas as usual” this year, ask The Lord if He wants you to involve anyone else in your celebrations.

Praise Him for all He achieved through Jacob (whose name means “supplanter”) renamed Israel, meaning “one who wrestled with God”!

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